Fishing and hunting permits available for 2003

The Division of Wildlife Resources has made the 2003 fishing and hunting licenses available just in time for the holiday season.

The sale of fishing, small game and combination licenses, two-pole and setline permits, and cougar pursuit permits, began Dec. 4 from DWR offices.

The wildlife licenses are also available via the Internet at the DWR's website which is located at www.wildlife.utah.gov.

Licenses purchased online are mailed directly to the person the license was purchased for and may take up to 10 days to arrive in the mail.

New licenses also may be purchased from hunting and fishing license agents statewide. All of the agents in the state should receive their licenses by Dec. 13 and many agents will have their licenses before then.

All of the licenses that became available Dec. 2 may be purchased from license agents except setline and cougar pursuit permits, which must be purchased from DWR offices or the DWR's web site.

The 2003 wildlife heritage certificates, which provides funding for wildlife viewing and other nonconsumptive wildlife activities, are available at the six division offices and the DWR's web site. These certificates are not available from license agents.

In addition to providing that special hunter, angler or wildlife-watcher the perfect gift, those who buy a license can also receive the satisfaction of knowing they're providing funding to manage Utah's wildlife.

"Purchasing a license for someone is easy," stated Suzette Fowlks, information specialist with the DWR. "If purchasing a permit from a division office or the web site, all that is required is the licensed person's personal information including, name, height, weight, eye color, hair color, date of birth, address and phone number."

Those who purchase a small game or combination license from a license agent or the website also must supply verification such as a blue card, that the person they're purchasing the license for has completed a DWR-approved hunter education course.

The course is required for everyone born after Dec. 31, 1965 who wishes to hunt in Utah.

"License agents are not able to verify completion of a hunter education course via computer, the way we can at a division office," Fowlks explained.

Fowlks said it's also helpful to provide the licensed person's social security and driver license numbers, but these aren't required.

Buyers are reminded that the combination license does not include a deer or elk permit and does not allow someone to hunt deer or elk. Hunters may apply for 2003 general deer and ML 300 elk permits beginning in January.

With the exception of ML300 permits, all other general elk permits will be available, over-the-counter, in July.

The two-pole permit allows an angler, who must also possess a fishing license, to use two fishing poles while fishing at designated Utah waterways.

The setline permit allows an angler, who must also possess a fishing license, to use one setline containing not more than 15 hooks while fishing at various lakes and rivers.

A list of these waterways is available at any DWR office.

Those with questions may call their nearest DWR office or visit the division's web site.